Following a hamstring injury in August that forced him to withdraw from the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Jacob Kilomo has been well on his way to making a full recovery.
The reigning World Cross Country Champion proved he was making a strong comeback a few weeks ago after winning the Atapureca Cross Country Championships in Spain.
Today, Kiplima proved he remains a force to be reckoned with when he lined up at the Seven Hills (Zevenheuvelenloop) race in Nijmegen, Netherlands today.
The 23-year-old Ugandan soloed to victory on the 15-kilometer course in a time of 41 minutes and 5 seconds.
His result equals the current world record for the 15k, which was set in 2018, at the same race by fellow Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei.
With the pace being on the slower side at the start of the race, it seemed unlikeyl that Kiplimo would come close to the world record.
At the halfway mark in the race, Kiplomo pushed the pace and began to create separation between him and the rest of the race.
He continued to increase his pace through the final kilometers of the race and with the help of the downhill finish into Nijmegen, nearly improved on Cheptegei’s world record.
Considering Kipliom is coming off an injury and is likely not in top form, it leaves to question more likely when, rather than if, we will see the 15k world record fall in the near future.
2022 Seven Hills champion and compatriot Rogers Kibet took second place today after crossing the line in 42:44.
Rounding out the podium was Kenyan runner Amos Serem, clocking 43:07.
Two Dutchmen, Filmon Tesfu and Mike Foppen, were just off the podium in their home race, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.
In the women’s race, Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya defended her title from the previous year and took the victory with a time of 47:12.
Israeli runner Lonah Salpeter took second place in 47:55. Fellow Kenyan Stella Chesang completed the podium, finishing in third with a time of 48:02.
The reigning World Cross Country Champion proved he is well on his way to victory and will likely be looking to defend his world title at the 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, this upcoming March.
